Midway Mayor Stacy Thurman and all of the city council members expressed gratitude at last week’s council meeting for the work day that returning Midway University students gave to the community on their first day back on Saturday, Aug. 18 with Thurman calling the university a “great community partner.”

This included work at Walter Bradley Park, area churches, residential neighborhoods and Main Street.

Councilmember Patrick Hall pointed out that 60 students “helped clear brush, threw a bunch of mulch, general clean up and all while having a great time.” Councilmember Mary Raglin said, “There were 30 at my church . . . a terrific help. I love how these kids are just making themselves a real part of our town.” Councilmember Logan Nance added, “We are so fortunate to have the University, its staff, academics and students . . . just great community partners. They were all over town helping in ways I don’t think any of us expected.”

Lakeshore Learning

The council then heard the first reading of the ordinance to issue new Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRB) for the expansion of the Lakeshore Learning complex in the amount of $35 million. Seth Ehrlich, the attorney for Lakeshore Learning, went over the proposal and next steps. The structure and operating documents will protect Midway from liability or risk of financial loss, according to Thurman. The details of the expansion project were previously reported in the spring when it was first presented to the council by Ehrlich.

The approval of the IRB is the first concrete step in the process. In 2016, Midway issued an IRB for the first Lakeshore Learning build-out, in 2019 another IRB was issued for the second major building at the site and now, the proposed IRB will be used for a new expansion which will be called Lakeshore Learning East Warehouse.

Leashing your dog

Thurman reported she and the city had received complaints about dogs being walked unleashed. She reminded everyone that Midway has a leash ordinance and said people need to obey the law and be responsible owners. Thurman emphasized she was not “public shaming,” but there are residents and visitors who have had bad dog experiences, so it is simply being “inconsiderate to others to not leash.”

Interlocal Agreement

Thurman announced that the council’s proposed change to the Interlocal Agreement with the county and Versailles to fund the police department had been accepted. A representative from Midway Council will be chosen each March to participate in the budget planning. The council then approved the Interlocal Agreement. The council also approved the 2023 tax rates which are effectively the same as in 2022.

Thurman shared that she had met with Northside Elementary School about collaborative efforts and events between the school and the city. She anticipates that there will be “lots of cool things, and opportunities to interact with students – particularly the fifth graders interested in government.”

Code Enforcement

Councilmember Kaye Nita Gallagher pointed out that since the Code Enforcement Board is active again, anyone with complaints or concerns about derelict buildings or dangerous conditions can come to City Hall to fill out a complaint form if they cannot do it online.